Welcome to the September Boundary Rider’s Report.  The cover photo this month is of the riparian zone at Bald Blair with stud heifers and cross bred ewes that was taken by Al Mabin at the end of July this year.

Spring has sprung here at Bald Blair Angus and it is shaping up to be a pretty good season. Spring rain has been good in this area, the September winds came early in August, always a pleasant experience (Not).  The Ground is warming up and pastures, and weeds are growing.  Already we have experienced bloat in our Commercial Heifers.  Regrettable, I thought we had a bit more time.  Made it necessary to put Bloat licks out, and put heifers in a better paddock.

I had a great trip down south inspecting Bulls at AI centres and attending Ardrossan and Rennylea sales.  There are families working hard in the industry breeding bulls.  Inspected the top priced bull at Dunoon presale, what a magnificent bull. 

Sam and Arthur also attended Agquip and came across some great solutions to some issues we are facing here, including a remote control ramp to replace the tape across the bottom of the lane that we inevitably drive through and snap.  Again he has checked out the Contgra silencer crush!  Great gadgets, so a lot of things I don't necessarily need!

Season

The moisture probes showed good moisture at depth, however the recent winds dried out the moisture in top 20 cm.  Need rain again.

Decent frost this morning, however the sun is shining and the wind has dropped.

Market

The cattle market is looking good.  We also have a few of last season's lambs to off load.  We are, however, enjoying eating our own lamb for the first time in a long time and very pleased to have found a young butcher keen to do the task and help prepare the lamb.

Cattlework

We are in the process of weaning our commercial and stud autumn drop calves.  We are planning to sell our commercial autumn herd in October. There will be approximately 22 PTIC mixed age commercial angus cows, due to calve in Jan and Feb 2025,  to be offered on AuctionsPlus soon and we will keep you posted on more details closer to the date.

The spring herd is at the end of calving and we are tagging the last of the stud heifers and cow calves and have drifted out the heifers and cows that have calved into fresh paddocks. 

All cattle have received their pre joining treatments and we are finalising our AI and embryo program with sire selection, joining lists and dates being worked through.  We continue to look for sires that have great structure, marbling and growth to match with our heifers and cows.

Farm Connectivity Grants

The Australian Government's On Farm Connectivity Program is providing $33 million over 2 years from 2023–24 to 2024–25 to enable primary producers in agriculture, forestry and/or fisheries to take advantage of connected machinery and sensor technology.

This program is part of the Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia and aims to assist primary producers to take advantage of digital agribusiness solutions to boost productivity, improve safety and drive more sustainable farming practices.

https://regionaltechhub.org.au/onfarm/

https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications-arts/better-connectivity-plan-regional-and-rural-australia/farm-connectivity-program

Regeneration: Family Succession Event

We attended the Regeneration event at Dubbo on Wednesday, 14th August 2024, hosted by Proagtive.  It was an excellent event, with very good speakers on family succession planning.  Isobel Knight the founder of Proagtive gave an outstanding speech and we have included a link for you to read: link to pdf uploaded on website.  Quote from Dick Wittman “Succession planning is business life planning.”

POSITION VACANT: Gap Year/Internship Opportunity: Station Hand

Are you looking for a hands-on experience that will kickstart your career in agriculture? Whether you're taking a gap year or seeking an internship, this 12-month Station Hand position offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the agricultural industry and develop practical skills that will last a lifetime.

At Bald Blair Pastoral Co, located on the Northern Tablelands of NSW, we are dedicated to nurturing talent. Our Angus stud and sheep operation is the perfect place for someone eager to learn, especially in low-stress stock handling techniques. If you have prior livestock experience (12 months or more), that's a plus, but a strong willingness to learn and grow is what we value most. 

And if you have a working dog, great—but it's not a deal-breaker.

Your experience here will be compensated in line with the Pastoral Award, and the salary will reflect your level of experience.

Ready to take the next step in your agricultural journey? Send your application, including references, to samwhite@baldblair.com.au.

To learn more about our operation, visit www.baldblairangus.com.au.

Employer of Choice: Best Practice People Management On-farms.

AgriFutures has appointed Inspire AG to lead the project "Employer of Choice: Best Practice People Management On-farms.” We are excited to collaborate with project partners the University of Melbourne, AgInnovate, and The Capacity Co to deliver this initiative.

The Employer of Choice Project aims to enhance on-farm people management through comprehensive research on existing practices. The objective is to determine how this project can help farm leaders and managers better attract, develop and retain top talent.

I am reaching out to ask you to participate, or to help share this opportunity with farm businesses in your network that have employees, in order to gather insights about managing teams and understand current people management strategies.

There are two ways to contribute to this project:

🌱 A 45-minute Zoom interview with me [Book Here]

🌱 A 15-minute survey online [Book Here]

The thoughts and experiences of individuals with people management responsibilities are crucial in shaping the future of our industry. Contact: Sally E: sally@inspire-ag.com.au M: 0409 196 861

EVENTS

Ebor Beef

The 2024 Ebor Beef Forum, titled "The Future of Beef," will be held on September 11, addressing the challenges and opportunities in the beef industry amidst pressures such as carbon neutrality goals, emissions reduction, and rising production costs. The forum features key speakers including Michael Crowley from MLA, Rabobank analysts, and experts from UNE and DPI, discussing topics like market trends, sustainability, livestock management, and agricultural technology. The event aims to guide beef producers in adapting to changes and embracing innovation. Tickets are available for $50, with free entry for Ebor Beef members.

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1256457

World Angus Forum 

Save the Date: 7-8 May 2025

Bonus 8 Day pre-tour starting 29 April 

(including a visit to Bald Blair on Monday 5th May !)

Extra Bonus  7 Day post-tour until 15 May

Calling all cattle enthusiasts and breeders to the 2025 Neogen World Angus Forum! This event unites the global Angus community to share knowledge, promote the breed, and advance cattle breeding and management, plus also to have a good time. Hosted by Angus Australia, it’s an unmissable opportunity to celebrate, learn and catch up with international friends breeding Angus Cattle.

More information: CLICK HERE

Beef Cattle Assessment Course 

Now celebrating its 44th year, it has been widely recognised as the most practical and hands on beef cattle selection course of its kind. It has been copied in most Australian States and NZ using the basic principles developed through experience.

The course embraces both newcomers and experienced cattle producers alike. A great deal of time and thought goes into the selection of the overjudges. They must possess the practical and communicative skills necessary to ensure all participants receive maximum benefit, given the varied levels of experience of participants.

Although this course is organised by NSW Angus State Committee it is open to all beef cattle enthusiasts. It utilises both Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus breeds and their crosses over the duration of the course.

The Beef Cattle Assessment course is committed to the education of its participants in all aspects of the beef industry. We strive to make it challenging but also fun.

December 2 – 4, 2024

Entrant Live-In $ 715.00

Entrant Non-Resident $ 605.00

Email: leanne-stuart6@bigpond.com

Get ready for the 2024 19 for 19 Challenge!

Sunday 20th October

In keeping with the spectacular New England gorge country, this year the walk will encompass three stunning properties, "Victoria Park", "Mt McDonald" and "By Gorge", each with unique vistas across the escarpment to the finish line at the magnificent Dangar's Falls.

Whether you are running or walking, 19km or 7.5km, this unique course, set in breathtaking landscape, will provide you with the most amazing experience! All proceeds go to assist research to end childhood osteosarcoma.

The registration window is open until Friday 18th October at midnight, quick, jump!

Register by clicking on the link below:-

https://raceroster.com/events/2024/75286/19-for-19-challenge

Saumarez Homestead

Spring is in full bloom at Saumarez Homestead, offering new floral delights daily. Explore the stunning two-storey mansion and 2 hectares of English-style gardens. Enjoy a peaceful picnic while soaking in the spring atmosphere. Guided tours are available on Sundays at 10:30 am, and starting 18 September, the property opens on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Pre-purchase tickets on Eventbrite to secure your spot on tours. The National Trust (NSW) is dedicated to preserving the heritage of NSW for future generations.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/saumarez-homestead/

PROGRAZE

Last Thursday we held the 5th session for our Armidale PROGRAZE group at Bald Blair.

The LLS Sustainable Agriculture staff Georgie, Brianna and Tahnee took the group through best practice cattle breeding, which included a practical fat scoring session in the yards, and some pasture assessment.

If you're curious about our PROGRAZE courses, you can learn more at https://bit.ly/3U7g7hx

Reading

ABS Beef Sire Directory

https://www.absglobal.com/au/beef/beef-sires/

Listening

Kirsty signed up for a course called GROW,  A professional development program for women in NSW agricultural industries and is working her way through the content.

This course aims to develop skills in:

• Time management, planning and organization
• Communication and networking to position yourself  as a leader and influencer in your business and community
• Management of teams and staff and meeting  Industrial Relations requirements
• Understanding and managing work health and safety in your business

GROW is a program for business owners and managers who have a minimum of 5 years experience in the workplace and have delegation over the WHS and HR systems of business.

https://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/courses/short-courses/business-management/grow

Watching

How good are the Paralympic Games?!

We have been catching highlights on Channel 9.

https://www.nine.com.au/sport/paralympics/paris-2024-live-updates-day-six-latest-news-headlines-20240903-p5k7lp.html

Please keep in touch and let us know what is happening in your world. What is happening on your farm, do you have an event you would like us to share with our network or a great tip or trick.

Sam & Kirsty